Shire-wide news extracts from the Moruya Examiner of 18 January 1919, provided by the Moruya & District Historical Society:
HARD LUCK. – On Sunday last Mr. Barty Turner met with an unfair bit of hard luck. It appears that Mr. Turner was one of the firefighters who had such a strenuous battle on Sunday last protecting Mr. Albert William’s house from the fierce bush fires that were so dangerously threatening from all sides and that while so engaged his tent with all its contents, principally his valuable tools of trade, were totally destroyed at Moggendoura, where Mr. Turner is engaged in the timber trade. It’s not fair Barty, you deserved better luck.
RETURN THANKS. – MR. ALBERT WILLIAMS wishes to sincerely thank all those who gave such valuable assistance in saving his house and contents from the bush fire on Sunday.
TERRIBLE FIRE AT MONGARLOWE. – Tuesday was a desperate day at Mongarlowe. As a result of a bush fire the whole village was endangered. At 3 o’clock in the afternoon the Church of England and the Catholic Church were destroyed, as well as Mr. Wisbey’s residence and the police station. The fire went right up to the door of the schoolmaster’s residence, where it was stopped and the building saved. At that hour Smith’s and Bryce’s premises were in imminent danger but a strong band of workers was fighting the fire. If these places are destroyed it will go badly with the whole village.
MOTORING. – Our local chemist, Mr. Weatherby, is going big licks for Buick motor cars for regular service and special hire. In addition to his already excellent service, he has now bought a seven-seater Buick and has ordered another. It is, perhaps just as well for the motor car proprietors to get all they can out of the business without delay, as it won’t be very long before they are superseded by aeroplanes.
PERSONAL & OTHERWISE. –
Slight frost on the flats yesterday morning.
20 points of rain fell in Moruya and 40 at Moruya Heads on Wednesday.
Dog owners are again cautioned against allowing their canine pets on the Moruya Park, unless under control as they are liable to be shot by the Trustees, who have been given lawful authority to do so. Trainers, especially, should be careful in this matter.
WEDDING. – SEBBENS-STAUNTON
A very large number of friends and well-wishers witnessed the marriage of Miss Ruperta, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Staunton, of Congo, and Felix, second youngest son of Mr. W. Sebbens, of Braidwood, which was celebrated in the Sacred Heart Church, Moruya, on Wednesday afternoon by the Rev. Father McCormack. The church had been decorated by the Children of Mary, of which Society Miss Staunton was a strict member. The bride who was given away by her father, was attired in a white costume of crepe de chine, artistically finished with silver bead work, and wore a handsome wreath and veil (kindly lent by Mrs. A. F. Emmott), and gold and pearl necklet (gift of the bridegroom). She carried a bouquet of white sweet pea and asparagus fern. Miss Isabella Staunton (sister of the bride) was in attendance and wore a pretty frock of pink crepe de chine trimmed with filet lace. Her hat was of champagne tagel trimmed with pink posies. She also wore a gold wristlet watch (gift of the bridegroom) and carried a bouquet of pink and white sweet pea. The breakfast was held at McKeon’s Commercial Hotel, where a large number of guests were entertained. Subsequently Mr. and Mrs. Sebbens left by Mr. Weatherby’s special car for Braidwood where they will reside.
THUS AN EXCHANGE. – The fodder plant that best deserves to be brought under the notice of the man on the land is the good old weeping-willow. The stock owners who fail to distribute it along every available water course and in every swampy spot in his territory isn’t availing himself of one of the best helps towards putting stock through hard times.
Twenty 100 years ago booklets containing articles for the years 1899 to 1918 are available ($6 ea) from the Society’s rooms. Copies of local newspapers from the 1860s to date can be viewed at the Society’s Family History Research Centre (Ph 4474 3224) situated at the rear of the Museum in Campbell St. Moruya (www.mdhs.org.au/publications.html).
